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UPSC Mains Syllabus: The UPSC Mains Syllabus is very vast and need to be understood by the UPSC aspirants before starting the UPSC Mains Preparation. The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is India’s premier central recruiting agency responsible for conducting the Civil Services Examination. The examination is a multi-stage process that comprises the Preliminary Examination (Prelims), Main Examination (Mains), and the Personality Test (Interview).
Among these, the UPSC Mains holds paramount importance as it assesses the in-depth knowledge, analytical skills, and overall understanding of candidates on a wide range of subjects. In this article, we will decode the UPSC Mains syllabus to provide a comprehensive guide for aspirants.
If you’re preparing up for the UPSC examination, it’s crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of both the preliminary and mains syllabus. In this article, we’ll focus on the Mains Examination Syllabus. Find a detailed overview of the UPSC Mains examination in the table below.
UPSC Mains Syllabus Overview
Particular
Details
Category
Mains Syllabus
Exam Date
15th to 19th September 2023
Number of Papers
Nine
Types of Paper
Conventional Papers (Descriptive Type)
Duration of Exam
3 hours Each Paper
Total Marks
1750
Language of Exam
English & Hindi (Except Language Paper)
Negative Marking
No negative marking but Penalty Marking for various mistakes done by candidates
Marks Counted in Merit
Yes
Aspirants first need to clear the UPSC Prelims to move on to the UPSC Mains exam. To qualify for the main exam, candidates must meet the requirements for each paper. This stage of the exam determines their scores and rankings.
In the main exam, candidates are evaluated on their academic knowledge and their ability to express their understanding within the given time frame, as per the question’s demands. To pass the main exam, candidates must achieve a minimum passing score in each of the nine papers. The English and Indian Language papers are essential for qualification, while the remaining papers (GS-I, GS-II, GS-III, GS-IV, Essay paper, Optional Paper 1, and Paper 2) are graded for assessment.”
UPSC Mains Exam Pattern
UPSC Mains Paper
UPSC Mains Subject
UPSC Mains Syllabus
Marks
Paper I
Essay Writing
Candidates are required to write essays on multiple topics covering social, political, and economic issues
250
Paper II
General Studies I
Indian Heritage and Culture, History, Geography, and Society of India and the World
250
Paper III
General Studies II
Governance, Constitution, Polity, Social Justice, International Relations, and related topics
250
Paper IV
General Studies III
Technology, Economic Development, Biodiversity, Environment, Security, and Disaster Management
250
Paper V
General Studies IV
Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude
250
Paper VI
Optional Subject Paper I
Candidates have the option to choose one subject from the list of approved subjects
250
Paper VII
Optional Subject Paper II
Candidates have the option to choose one subject from the list of approved subjects
250
Qualifying Papers
Paper A
Indian Language (Qualifying Paper)
Candidates have the option to choose one subject from the list of approved subjects
300
Paper B
English (Qualifying Paper)
Candidates need to demonstrate proficiency in the English language
300
Sub Total
1750
Interview Marks
275
Grand Total
2025
Apart from the Indian Language and English Papers, the merit is determined by the performance in the remaining papers of the Main examination. For a comprehensive overview of the UPSC Mains Syllabus, including General Studies and Essay papers, please refer to the full article given below:
In the UPSC Mains Exam, there are two language papers, Paper A and Paper B. Candidates are required to choose one language from the languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, as shown in the table below. Additionally, English is the second language paper. It’s important to note that candidates must use the script corresponding to the language chosen from the table below. You have the option to select any of the Indian Languages listed in the table.
Let’s take a closer look at the structure of “Paper A” and “Paper B,” the language papers in the UPSC Mains Exam:
Essay – 100 marks
Reading Comprehension – 60 marks
Precis Writing – 60 marks
Translation:
English to Compulsory Language (e.g., Hindi) – 20 marks
Compulsory Language to English – 20 marks
Grammar and Usage of Basic Language – 40 marks.
The first General Studies paper in the UPSC exam covers a wide range of topics related to History, Heritage, Geography, and Culture, both at the Indian and global levels. The key themes of the General Studies I syllabus include:
The UPSC Mains Syllabus for General Studies II paper covers a diverse range of topics related to Polity, Governance, Constitution, Social Justice, and International Relations. Here’s an overview of the detailed syllabus:
UPSC Mains General Studies III extensively covers Science, Technology, Economics, Defense, Disaster Management, and Nature. This paper addresses various aspects of life and recent developments in these domains.
The syllabus for this paper includes:
The UPSC Mains exam includes a paper on Ethics, Integrity, and Aptitude. This paper assesses candidates’ attitudes and approaches regarding integrity, probity in public life, and their problem-solving abilities when dealing with various societal challenges and disputes. Case studies may be used to evaluate these elements.
The syllabus covers:
The paper uses case studies to illustrate and assess these ethical and moral aspects.
For a comprehensive resource on the UPSC Mains Exam syllabus, you can access the UPSC Mains Syllabus PDF. You can easily download it from the official website or using the direct link provided below. The PDF format allows candidates to access and refer to the syllabus conveniently at any time during their UPSC exam preparation. It covers various topics, including general studies, elective subjects, and qualification exams. You can download the UPSC IAS Mains Syllabus PDF in both Hindi and English languages from the provided link.
The UPSC mains examination consists of nine papers, out of which two are optional subjects. The optional subjects carry substantial weightage and play a pivotal role in determining an aspirant’s final rank. Scoring well in these subjects can significantly boost an individual’s chances of success. Additionally, selecting an optional subject that aligns with an aspirant’s strengths and interests can make the preparation process more engaging and enjoyable.
While the choice of optional subjects should be based on individual interests and strengths, some subjects have traditionally been more popular among UPSC aspirants. Here are a few subjects that have been preferred by candidates:
elated UPSC Links
UPSC Syllabus
UPSC Mains Strategy
IAS Full Form
UPSC Optional Subjects
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